Temple of Understanding

The Temple of Understanding, "A Global Interfaith Organization" at the United Nations, is a "non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council" (UNESC).

History
The Temple's web site states that it was "founded in 1960 by Juliet Hollister, a housewife who had a peanut butter sandwich lunch with a friend and shared her vision of a world in which the many religious traditions of today would come together in dialogue rather than conflict. Her idea, though simple, was so powerful that humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer in the Congo and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt soon became her advocates." Its mission - "to promote understanding among the world's religions, to recognize the oneness of the human family and to achieve 'A Spiritual United Nations'" - has since gained wide support amongst religous leaders including Pope John XXIII and the Dalai Lama and other prominent representatives of the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and other faiths.

According to the Temple's website, it has recently concentrated on participating in briefings, meetings and conferences at the United Nations and "interfaith education." It is a member of the broad-based Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations. 

The Temple's work - such as in promoting greater religious community support for the protection of the environment - has been attacked by conservative organisations such as the Environmental Conservation Organization, a "property rights group" from the US that rails against "excessive environmental regulations." Other conservative groups, such as the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute complained about the promotion of the Earth Charter at a conference organized by the Temple of Understanding. Some conspiracy theorists, who oppose the United Nations for being a part of what they claim is a campaign for "one world government," have also criticised the Temple of Understanding because of its close ties to the UN.,, ,

Board of Trustees and Staff 2002-2003

 * Alison Van Dyk, Chairman of the Board and Interim Executive Director
 * J. Steven Anderson, Development Chair
 * Diane M. Williams, International Consultant, Representative to the United Nations (Main Rep. Geneva, Alternative Rep. NY)
 * Sister Joan Kirby, Representative to the United Nations
 * John D. Miller
 * Tiffany Puett, Administrative and Program Assistant
 * Ibrahim Abdil-Mu'id Ramey
 * Laxmi Shah
 * Dr. Karan Singh, International Chairman

Awards
"In order to honor our founder Juliet Hollister's achievements and to support and affirm those secular and religious people whose life work has helped to create interfaith understanding, the Board of Trustees of the TOU established the Juliet Hollister Award in 1996. Past awardees include such luminaries as Swami Satchidananda, H.H. the XIVth Dalai Lama, Mary Robinson, Maestro Ravi Shankar, and Nelson Mandela."


 * Other winners include: Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Wangari Muta Maathai (2001) ; Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan (posthumously) and Hans Kueng (2004)


 * 2008 Honorees: Majora Carter, Russell Simmons, Bhai Sahib Dr. Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia

"*Honorary Chairpersons: H.H. the XIVth Dalai Lama and Dr. Wangari Maathi and Dr. Karan Singh
 * Master of Ceremony: Linus Roache
 * Co-Chairpersons: Sherry B. Bronfman, Marshia Glazebrook and Laxmi Shah

"Past awardees include Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, the Very Reverend James Parks Morton, His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda, President Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Maestro Ravi Shankar, Wangari Maathai, Fr. Thomas Berry, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, and Hans Kung."

Contact
The Temple of Understanding 720 Fifth Avenue, 16th floor New York, NY 10019 Tel: 212-246-2746 Fax: 212-246-2340 email: info@templeofunderstanding.org http://www.templeofunderstanding.org

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Achelis and Bodman Foundations
 * globalization
 * Robert Muller
 * United Religions Initiative

Critical articles

 * Rev. Wayne C. Sedlak, The United Nations: A Most Sophisticated Coven.
 * The Coming World Government, Van Impe Intelligence Briefing for Members of the Forum], 1995.
 * William Norman Grigg, Pagans of the World Unite!, The New American, August 18, 1997.
 * Lee Penn, Midwives of a Common God: The Myriad Friends of the United Religions Initiative, Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Spirituality, June 2000.
 * Austin Ruse, A Summit for Some Religions, 2000.
 * Austin Ruse, Summit of the Gods. Ted Turner's Millennium World Peace Summit, Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Spirituality, 2000.
 * Henry Lamb, Churches duped by green extremists, Enter Stage Right, April 1, 2002.
 * Robert Stacy McCain, Greens use Jesus to drive home a point, The Washington Times, November 29, 2002.